The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize

The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize is a writing competition sponsored by Selected Shorts. This long-running series at Symphony Space in New York City celebrates the art of the short story by having stars of stage and screen read aloud the works of established and emerging writers. Selected Shorts is recorded for Public Radio and heard nationally.

The 2017 Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize will be judged by Lauren Groff, author of Fates and Furies. The winning work will be performed and recorded live at a Selected Shorts performance at Symphony Space in May 2017, and published on Electric Literature. The winning writer will receive $1000 and a free 10-week course with Gotham Writers.

We do not accept work that has been previously published in print, online, or any other medium.

We do not accept works in translation.

Once entered, we do not accept revisions for any stories. Your $25 is nonrefundable.

You may enter as many stories as you like, but a $25 fee is required for each story.

We no longer accept mailed, paper submissions. Stories received in the mail will be returned unread with your uncashed check. If you have problems with the online form or are unable to submit online for some extenuating circumstance, please contact us directly at shorts@symphonyspace.org and we will make sure your work reaches us.

The winner will be announced in May 2017.

Sponsored by:

Entries can be submitted starting Sept. 1, 2016 (a live link will be available on this page).

Please read the contest guidelines before submitting or contacting us. If you have further questions, please reach us as shorts@symphonyspace.org.